Power-driven earth auger



March 24, 1925. I 1,531,226

- J. B. SPOWART POWER DRIVEN EARTH AUGER Filed M ay 25, 1922 4SheetsSheet 1 Q Q N INVENTOR.

v JOHN 5. SP0 WAR? ,1 TTORNEYS.

March 24, 1925.

- J. B. SPOWART POWER DRIVEN EARTH AUGER Eiled Mpy 23,1922 4Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

JON/V 5. SRDWV/W BY mm A TTORNEYS.

March 24,1925.

. J. B. SPOWART POWER DRIVEN EARTH AUGER Filed May 23,

1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 illv Ill III! II [III/III] ll/llllll/lll HIIHIIHATTORNEYJ' Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN B. SPOWART, 0F BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

PtiWER-DRIVEN EARTH AUGER.

Application filed. Z llay 23, 1922. Serial No. 563,086.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN B. Srowarrr, a citizen of the United States,residing at virrrlzeley, county of Alameda, and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Power-Driven. Earth.-\ug'ers,of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to a power driven earth auger, and especially toimprovements over the structure shown in my copendi'ng applicationentitled Eartlr auger, filed July 28, 1920, Serial No. 399,504.

- The objectof the present invention is to generally improve andsimplify boring inachines of the character described; to provide amachine which may be readily mounted on the chassis of an ordinary motortruck and so positioned that its operating mechanism may be coupled tothe engine shaft or transmission of the truck, thereby enablingtheboring operation to he effected by means of power transmitted .lrom theengine; to provide a novel mounting for the boring mechanism whereby itthe truck is standing OII'SlOPlHg or otherwise uneven ground, the atiger and conn cted driving mechanism may be adjusted to assumeavertical position, and conversely whereby angular adjustment of theauger may he obtained-when angular holes are desired, and further tonfm-ide a novel gear transmission and a pair ot'clutches cooperatingtherewith whereby the auger m'ay be quickly raised or lowered to boringposition and automatically ad-.

vanced while boring. Other objects will hereinafter appear. I

One form which my invention may assume exemplified in the followingdescription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which l ig.1 is a side elevation of the front end of a. motor-truck showing theapplication of the invention.

Fig. 2 .is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged-plan section taken online 33, Fi 1.

,Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical, longitudinal section taken on line 4-4,Fig. 2.

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross action taken on line 5--5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an'enlarged vertical, longitudinal section talreii oii lino6-6, Fig. 1.

Fig.- 7 is an enlarged detail view of the brake band actuatingmechanism. e

. whereby Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs.1 and 2, A indicates the main frame-of a motor truck, 13 the engine, 2the transmission, 3 an auxilliary transmission, and 4 the frontor'steering gears through which power is transmitted to rotate the augergenerally indicated at C.

Disposed on one side of the main frame is a sleeve shaft 9, and aninternal solid shaft 10', and forming acontinuation of said shaft-s is asleeve shaft 9-,see Fig. 3, and an internal solid shaft 10. These lastnamed shafts are journalled in a head member 11,

which is tnrnahly mounted in the bearing casing 5, the bearingsemployedheing preferably anti-friction hearings as indicated at 12 and13, respectively. The head member 1.1 is secured on the end of thebearing casing 5 by means of a ring plate 14, and 7 one side of the headmember 11 has teeth formed therein .as at 15, which 'intermesh with aworm pinion 16 journalled in the lower end of the hearing casing, thatis the worm pinion is secured on a horizontally disposed shaft extendingthrough the lower part of the hearing casing 5 and one end thereof isprovided with a handgwheel 17 rotarymovement may be imparted to theshaft and the worm pinion. Such rotary 'movcnient'is in tnrn transmittedto the head member 11 through the teeth 15, and its position may thus beadjusted. The gearing. casing 7 is rigidly attached to the head member11 and as such will turn in unison therewith. The transmission case 8,-as previously stated, is turnably mounted with relation to the casing 7This mounting is clearly illustrated at 18, see Fig. 3, that is, theinner face of the case 8 is provided with an annular flange. and this isa hand wheel 24 and when this hand wheel is rotated movement istransmitted to turn the case 8 with relation to the casing 7. In otherwords universal adjustment of the case 8, which supports the earth augerC, is permittedas two turnable supports are provided, that isthesesupports are disposed at right angles to each other and universaladjustment may hence be obtained. This is of considerable importance as-it permits boring of vertical holes when the truck is standing onsloping or otherwise uneven ground, and it is of further importance asit also permits angular adjustment of the auger whenslopiiig holes arerequired.

The sleeve shaft 9 and the interior shaft 10 are driven by means of apair of multiple disk clutches, generally indicated at 24 and 25; shaft9 being driven by the clutch 24, and shaft 10 by the clutch 25. Thedriving members of the clutches 24 and 25 are connected as a unit bymeans of bolts 26 to a sprocket gear 27, which is driven from a maindrive shaft 28, through a sprocket pinion 29 and a chain 30, the shaft28 being in turn driven from the auxiliary transmission 3 by sprocketgears and chain as at 31, or in any other suitable manner desired.

The (11" ing'membef'of the clutch 24 is keyed or splined to the sleeveshaft 9, as at 32, while the driving member of the clutch 25 is keyed orsplined to the inner solid shaft 10, as at 33. The clutches are throwninto or out of engagement with their respective driving members by meansof cams 34, and these are in turn actuated by cones slidably mounted onthe respective shafts 9 and 10; the cones and dogs being of the usualconstruction and being actuated by manually controlled levers 36 and 3?disposed Within convenient reach of the drivers seat. The driving partof each clutch is, surrounded by brake bands, as at- 38 and 39, andthese are in turn thrown into and out of engagement by means of cams 40actuated bylevers 41 direztly connected to arms 42, that is bothclutches may assume neutral position, driving position or stationaryposition; neutral position being assumed when the clutches are free andthe bands are disengaged; driving position being assumed when theclutches are engaged and the bands are free, and locked or stationaryposition being assumed when the clutches are free but the bands aretightened to secure the clutches. The sleeve shafts 9 and 9 and theinner solid shafts 10 and 10 are disposed in alignment with each other,as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, and a driving connection is formed betweenthe respective shafts as indicated at 43 and 44, respectively; theconnection formed between the shafts 10 and 10* being nothing more orless than a sliding spline, while the cennection 43 is a jaw coupling.These couplings to a certain extent form a flexible coupling, and assuch automaticall Y take care of any disalignment between the respectiveshafts.

Secured on the ends of the shafts 9 and 10" are bevel pinions, asindicated at 45 and 46, and intcrmeshing therewith is a pair of bevelgears 47 and 48. The four gears specified are disposed within the gearcasing 7; the gears 47 and 48 being secured to the shafts indicated at49 and 50. These shafts are also disposed within the casing 7 and theyare also supported in anti-friction journals, as at 51. The shaft 49 isa sleeve shaft while the shaft 50 is an interior solid shaft. Theseshafts also have pinions secured on their respective ends, as at 52 and53, and these pinions intermesh with bevel gears indicated at 54 and 55,said last named gears. being disposed within the transmission case Sandbeing so disposed as to surround a drive shaft 56 whereby the auger Thegear is raised, lowered androtated. 54 is employed for the purpose oftransmitting a rotary movement to the shaft 56, while the gear isemployed for the purpose of imparting a vertical movement thereto. Thisis accomplished in the following manner:

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that gear 54 is secured to orformed as an integral part of a sleeve 57 surrounding the shaft 56.Further by referring to F igs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that splinedgrooves 58 are formed in the shaft and extend from end to end thereof.The sleeve 57 is keyed or otherwise connected as at 57 with a lowersleeve 59, in which are journalled "rollers 60. The flanges of theserollers enter the splined grooves as shown in Fig. 5, thereby forming adriving connection between the gear 54 and the shaft 56. In actualpractice two sets of rollers, such shown at 60, are employed, one setbeing disposed above the other, the lowermost set being indicated indotted lines as at 61, in Fig. 5, while the upper set only is shown inFig. 4.- These rollers are of further importance as they permit a freevertical movement of the shaft when the auger is being raised or loweredand when it is being automatically advanced as will hereinafter hedescribed. The sleeve 55 is also extended in an upward direction asshown at 62, and gear is journalled exterior thereof; A sleeve 63 isformed as an integral part of the gear 55, and this sleeve carries a nut64 which rotates in unisen therewith; the nut being in. this inst-a 01supported by the upper end of the sleeve 62 and being secured to thesleeve 63 b means of clamping nuts 65. The exterior surface of the shaft56 is threaded or h..;-: spiral shaped teeth cut therein, as at 66, andthese spiral teeth intermcsh with the nut 64 and as this nut is rotatedby the gear 55, an up or down movement may be transmitted to shaft 56during the operation of the machine.

In actual operation it will be understood that the auger C. is suitablysecured to the lower end of the driving shaft 56. If it is desired tolower the auger rapidly to boring position, it is accomplished byholding the gear 55 stationary and rapidly rotating gear 54:; gear beingheld in a stationary position by locking the clutch 24 through which itis driven. If it is desired to raise the auger rapidly out of the .hole,gear 54 is held stationary and gear 55 is rapidly rotated, gear 54:being held stationary by locking the clutch member :25 through which itis rotated. If the auger has been lowered to digging position, and it isdesired to automatically advance the same, it may be stated that it isslowly rotated and that it is slowly fed in a downward direction. Thisis accomplished by rotating the gears54 and 55 in unison by throwing therespective clutches Q-l and 25 in engagement. The pitch and the diameterof the gears 54 and 55 are such that the inner gear 55 will rotate at aslightly slower speed than the exterior or larger gear 54, thus whilethe two gears rotate in unison, one gear will nevertheless rotate at aslightly this gear rotates the 1111564, it can be seen that the drivingshaft 56 will be slowly fed in a downward direction. If the auger has,been raised out of the hole and is clogged with dirt and it is desiredto remove the same by centrifugal action, it is possible to rapidlyrotate the shaft 56 by speeding up the engine. and 25 will in that casebe thrown into engagement and the operation will be the same as whendigging position is assumed. The gears 54 and 55 are the final drivinggears and the transmission of power from the engine to said gears can bereadily traced by referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 6. For instance power istransmitted to shaft 10 when the clutch 25 is engaged; power beingtransmitted to the clutch through the sprocket gears 27 and chain 30 tothe shaft 28, which in turn is driven from the engine through theauxiliary transmission '3 and the chain drive 31. Withthe shaft 10rotating, power will be transmitted through the splined connection 44 toshaft 10. It is then transmitted through the gears 45 and 48 to shaft49, and through the pinion 53 to the inner gear 54. Siniilarly, power istransmitted through clutch 2-1 when this is engaged and sleeve shaft 9to sleeve shaft 9" through the jaw-coupling 43. It is then transmittedthrough the gears 46 and 4:7 to the shaft 50, and as thisshaft carriesand drives the pinion52,

greater speed, and as" Bot-l1 clutches 24;

sired to raise the auger out of the hole and gear 55 is held stationarywhen it is desired to lower the auger to boring position. Thesedifferent operations are obtained by swinging the levers 36 and, 37,which are within convenient reach of the operators seat, and it istherefore possible for the operator to drive up to any point where it isdesired to bore a hole and then to spot the auger by operating the handwheels 17 and 24'. Vhen the auger has been properly spotted or directed,it is only necessary for the operator to return to his seat and totransmlt power to shaft 28. He then operates the lovers 36 and 37 andwill through these levers control the raising and lowering of the auger,and also throw the clutches into position where the auger isautomatically fed in a downward direction when in boring position. Theentire mechanism is simple and fairly light in construction and as suchmay be applied to practically any standard form of motor truck. Thepositioning of the mechanism at the extreme forward end of the truckpermits corners and odd places to be reached, which is a great advantagewhen it is considered that the machine is employed for the purpose ofboring .holes for telephone poles, and similarly for boring fence postholes, etc., that is rocks and other obstructions are often encounteredand may in this instance be avoided, due to the position of themechanism with relation to the truck.

\Vhile certain features of the present invention are more or lessspecifically il-' lustrated, I wish it understood that various changesin form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims, similarlythat the materials and finish of the severalparts employed may be such as the experience and judg ment of themanufacturermay dictate or various uses may demand.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the lower collar 59 as bolted to the lower end ofthe sleeve 57, as indicated at 57*. A spline connection may here beformed, if desired, but the bolts may be preferred as they serve thesame purpose and permit ready removal of the lower collar 59. ,Thereisno spline connection between the sleeve 57 and the shaft, but the splineconnection is formed by the rollers 58 and 61 carried by the collar 59.These rollers therefor form a driving connection and they at the sametime permitfree vertical movement of the shaft with relation to thecollar 59 and sleeve 57.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an earthboring machine of the character described, acasing, a shaft extendingtherethrough, an anger St cured to said shaft, a )air of gears withinthe casing and surrounding the shaft, means for transmitting power fromsaid gears to impart vertical and rotary movement to the shaft, meansfor rotating the gears in unison and one gear at a greater speed thanthe other, and means for locking either gear against rotation.

2. In an earth boring machine of the character described, a casing, ashaft extending therethrough, an anger secured to said shaft, a pair ofgears within the casing and surrounding the shaft, worm gear teethformed on the exterior surface of the shaft, a nut engageable with saidteeth and adapted to be rotated by one gear, a spline connection formedbetween the other gear and the shaft to rotate the shaft. means forrotatingthe gears in unison and one gear at a greater speed than theother, and means for locking either gear against rotation.

8. In an earth boring machine of the character described, a bearingcasing, a gear casing carried thereby and turnable with relationthereto, and a transmission case carried by the gearcasing and turnablewith relation thereto, and said gear casing and transn'iission casebeing turnable independently of each other.

4. In an earth boring machine of the cha actor described a bearingcasing, a gear casing carried thereby and turnable with relationthereto, and a transmission case carried by the gear casing and turnableWith relation thereto, and said gear casing and transmission case beingturnable independently of each other, and at right angles to each otherto permit universal adjustment.

5. In an earth boring machine of the character described a bearingcasing, a gear casing carried thereby and turnable with relationthereto, a transmission case carried by the gear casing and turnablewithrelation thereto, and said gear casing and transmission case beingturnable independently of each other and at right angles to each otherto permit universal adjustment, and manually operated means for turningthe respective casings, said means also looking the caslugs agamstturning movement. I

6. In an earth. boring machine of the character described a bearing"casing, a gear casing carried thereby and turnable with relationthereto, a transmission case carried b the gear casing and turnable"with? relation -member secured at one end thereof and turnable about acentral axis, a. gear casing secured to the head member, a transmissioncase secured to the gear ease and tnrnable about the central axis of thegear case, said head member and the transmission case bee ing turnableat right angles to each other to permit universal adjustment, andmanually operated means whereby each casing may be turned independentlyof the other.

8.111 an earth boring machine of the character described, a bearingcase, a head member secured at one end thereof and turnable about acentral axis, a gear casing secured to the head member, a transmissionease secured to the gear ease and turnable about the central axis of thegear case, said head member and the transmission case be ing turnablepermit universal adjustment, s am shaft and an interior solid shaft journalled in the head member, means for transmitting power to either: shaftor to both in unison, a sleeve shaft and an internal solid shaftjourna-lled in the gear casing, bevel gears connecting the sleeveshafts, bevel gears connecting the interior solid shafts, a pair ofgears disposed in the transmission case, pini'on'gears seh cured on thelast named sleeve and interior solid shaft intermeshing with the gears1n the transmission case, a shaft passing through the transmission caseand the gears contained therein,-and means for transmitting vertical androtary movement to said shaft from the two gears through which itpasses.

.9. In an earth boring machine of the character described, a bearingcasing, a gear casing carried thereby and turna-ble with relationthereto; a transmission case carried by the gear casing and turnablesaid gear casing, said gear casing and transmission casing beingturnableindependently v of each other, a shaft extending through thetransmission case, an'auger carried by said shaft, ,and means fortransmitting power through the bearing case, the gear case and thetransmission case to rotate and elevate the last named shaft and theauger carried thereby.

JOHN B. SPOWARTL at right angles to each other to with relation to

